Exploring Tonle Sap Futures
Research summary
The ‘Exploring Tonle Sap Futures’ project (2010-13) was one of the five localised case studies of the ‘Exploring Mekong Region Futures‘ project, led by The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and funded by AusAID. The Tonle Sap study looked -similarly to the entire regional project- the nexus between water, energy, food and climate change.
Description
Building on and extending our previous research in the area, the Tonle Sap study focused on the interactions between livelihoods and the Tonle Sap’s unique water resources as well as the impacts that energy production (hydropower) and climate change are likely to have on both of these. The key methods included in our analysis was hydrological modelling, spatio-statistical analysis and scenario formulation.
Majority of the Tonle Sap livelihoods are dependent on the lake’s aquatic environment, and any changes in the Tonle Sap’s water resources are therefore likely to influence the status of local livelihoods. Hydropower development in the Mekong River is considered to be among the key factors in any future development of the Tonle Sap region, largely due to the expected negative impacts that hydropower development would have for the Tonle Sap flood pulse and, in particular, the immense fish production of the lake.
The regional Mekong Futures project led by CSIRO conducted a series of alternative futures workshops at both regional and local scales, providing a systematic framework to reveal local development scenarios reflective of participants’ values, knowledge and future visions.
More information
Research info
Research title
Exploring Tonle Sap Futures
Research timeline
1.8.2015 - 1.8.2015
Keywords
climate change livelihood development scenarios socio-economic analysis water resources management water-energy-food-climate nexus
Region
Asia
Countries
Cambodia, Finland
Institution
Aalto University
Water & Development Research Group
Espoo, Finland
Funding instrument
Other
Project budget
0 - 200,000 euros
Head of research
Marko Keskinen
Research team
Marko Keskinen, Matti Kummu, Aura Salmivaara, Paradis Someth, Hannu Lauri, Hans de Moel, Philip Ward, Sokhem Pech
Partners
VU University Amsterdam, Institute of Technology of Cambodia, EIA Ltd, Hatfield Consultants Partnership, Tonle Sap Authority, Supreme National Economic Counci, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
Contact information
Marko Keskinen
marko.keskinen@aalto.fi
Open link
Record last updated
25.8.2015